4imprint (asi/197045), the largest distributor by revenue in the North American promotional products industry, announced Thursday that it increased total global sales in 2018 to $738.4 million – a nearly 18% rise over the prior year. Strong organic growth helped drive the gain, the UK-headquartered firm said.

4imprint announced the 2018 sales tally in a trading update meant to advance the release of its complete financial results, scheduled for March 5. While 4imprint did not say how much revenue it generated in North America versus abroad, the company has typically produced the vast majority of its business on this side of the Atlantic, where it has an extensive operation based in Oshkosh, WI. In 2017, $608 million of 4imprint’s total $627.5 million in sales occurred in North America.

Paul Moody, Chairman, 4imprint

As of yet, 4imprint had not released word on earnings and profit for 2018. The company said that underlying profit before tax for the full year is likely to land in the “upper end of the range of current market forecasts.” Last summer, when 4imprint released half-year results, broker FinnCap forecast that 4imprint’s adjusted pre-tax profits will be $44.7 million, with earnings per share of $1.26. That would be up from $42.5 million and $1.08 in 2017.

Following the Thursday trading update, shares in 4imprint rose 7% to 1,985.00 pence. According to 4imprint, the company had an unaudited net cash balance of $27.5 million at the end of 2018. That was down 11% from 2017. It’s possible the decline is due, in part, to spending tied to 4imprint’s marketing initiative focused on building brand awareness. 4imprint said the initiative is making “encouraging progress.”

Overall, 2018 was a strong year for 4imprint, executives said.

“The operational and financial performance of the group in 2018 leaves it ahead of schedule towards its strategic goal of $1 billion in revenue by 2022,” the company said in a statement. “In the context of this level of revenue growth, the board is pleased to announce that it has accelerated by a year further planned expansion of its Oshkosh, Wisconsin Distribution Centre, at a capital cost in 2019 of around $5 million.”